Samuel J. Carter
Captain

Samuel J. Carter

Tampa Police Dept. — Tampa, FL
Felonious
End of Watch June 2, 1905
Age 36
The Vigil Panel 20 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Captain Carter was shot and killed as he searched for a man who was threatening a woman with a gun. During the search the suspect jumped from behind some bushes and shot Captain Carter from approximately ten feet away. Captain Carter succumbed to his wounds three days later. A suspect, who claimed self defense, was tried for murder and acquitted. He died in the county poor home on July 18, 1919.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-2E1F1B8B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Carter served with the Tampa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Carter.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Tampa Police Dept.
Location Tampa, FL
Platform Identity tpd.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 2, 1905
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Acquitted

Captain Samuel J. Carter is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Tampa Police Dept., 21 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.4% of this agency's fallen.

Tampa Police Dept.
21
of 29 officers
72.4% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel J. Carter's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Samuel J. Carter Compares

Age at End of Watch
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel J. Carter is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel J. Carter was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518